Seducing the Dragon: Part Two

by Jessie Donovan

  She moved to pass the dragonwoman, but she moved into Evie’s way. “Yelling at Bram won’t accomplish anything. Lochguard’s clan leader is on his way here and he has a lot on his plate. Don’t bother him.”

  “Lochguard? As in the Scottish dragon-shifter clan?”

  For a second, the dragonwoman’s brows drew together, and in that instant, she looked pale. “He didn’t tell you?”

  Somehow, she had a feeling that telling her clan secrets was a big no-no. Evie would use that to her advantage later. “No. What’s your name?”

  “Nikola. I’m your new guard.”

  So, she still had a guard. She resisted a sigh as she wiped the water off her face with her sleeve. “Right, Nikola, here’s what we’re going to do. I need to learn the lay of the land here. Did Bram place restrictions on where I could go?” The dragonwoman shook her head and opened her mouth, but Evie cut her off. “You take me where I ask, and I won’t mention your slip-up. Does that sound like a deal?”

  Nikola’s face turned fierce. “My orders come from Bram, not you. I always tell him the truth. Blackmailing me won’t work.”

  Of course she’d be assigned a loyal guard. Still, she could be of some use. “I admire your spirit, so let’s try another approach. How about you ask Bram if I can go out today to explore since he refused to show me around? Promise me you’ll ask that, and really push for the decision, and I’ll jump into the shower without any more fuss.”

  The dragonwoman hesitated, but finally nodded. “Fine. You have ten minutes to shower, so hurry up.”

  Nikola left and Evie smiled. Her request might be simple, but she had an ulterior motive. As she moved toward the bathroom, she nabbed her clothes and starting humming. What had begun as a bloody awful way to wake up had turned into a way for her to not only search out the dragon-shifter doctor who could give her the answers she needed to maybe gain Bram’s trust, but she could also get under the bloody dragonman’s skin.

  Yes, the dragonman was in for a surprise.

  ~~~

  Bram glanced at the time. If Clan Lochguard’s leader was punctual, Evie had five minutes before the dragonman would arrive.

  It was bad enough he’d agreed to Nikki’s request to allow her to show the bloody female around in his stead. Now he ran the risk of Evie and Finn crossing paths, and Bram very much didn’t want that to happen.

  Evie probably didn’t know much about Lochguard’s new leader. Finlay Stewart had taken over the Scottish dragon-shifter clan six months ago. Few inside the DDA knew much about him since Lochguard had remained isolated throughout the transition and had postponed any inspections or female sacrifice requests. If Evie had heard the same rumors Bram had heard recently about the new leader having more open-minded views on humans and dragon-human interactions, she might’ve gone to Finn for help instead of Bram.

  Yesterday morning, he would’ve sent the female packing while giving her his best wishes. Yet after kissing the female and holding her soft, warm body against his last night, both man and dragon didn’t want Finn anywhere near her. He still didn’t know the lass’s whole truth, but provided she didn’t betray him, he planned to keep her.

  His dragon emerged from the back of his mind. Good. Embrace the truth. She is fire, and you like her.

  Bram grunted, but before he could converse any more with his inner beast, steps echoed down the stairs and he moved from behind his desk to stand at the bottom. Looking up, his heart skipped a beat.

  Evie wore a short jean skirt, brown flat-level boots that went to just below her knees, and a blue sweater the same deep blue of her eyes. The top hugged her figure and dipped low enough to show her small cleavage. Even from here, he could make out the lace shapes of her bra through the material. With the added cold, every male in his clan would be able to see her nipples.

  His dragon snarled. Her nipples were not for anyone else to see.

  He growled. “You are not going outside dressed like that without me.”

  The human arched one dark red eyebrow. “Since I’m auditioning to be your mate and am, in effect, no longer a DDA inspector, I can wear whatever I want. I’m wearing this.”

  He ignored the look Nikki was giving him at the news of Evie auditioning to be his mate and moved up the stairs until he was one step below her. Even with the extra step, he was still taller than her. “As a former DDA inspector, then you very well know dragon-shifter populations are heavily male. In Stonefire’s case, only about thirty-five percent of our clan is female. Dressing like that will attract nearly every unmated dragonman in Stonefire.”

  “The competition might be good for you.”

  He resisted a snarl. In normal circumstances, he knew there were a lot of good, single dragonmen in his clan who would make fine mates. Right now, however, they were all enemies.

  Gesturing behind him, he said, “You’ll wear one of my big coats and not that tiny thing on your arm. My jacket will also cover up your tempting curves.”

  Evie shook her head. “It’s early April, not December. I have a scarf and a jacket. I’ll be warm enough since my legs never really get cold.”

  At the mention of her legs, Bram glanced down at the plump, creamy skin on display. He remembered touching that soft skin yesterday right after he’d kissed the human, and he itched to do it again.

  With the sight of her skin, combined with her sweet, womanly scent, his cock was coming to life. He was about to reach out and touch her thigh when Evie broke the spell by clearing her throat and saying, “Eyes up here, dragonman.”

  Careful to keep his expression guarded, Bram looked up and said, “Your skin and scent are too enticing. Wear the big, heavy jacket or I’ll have you locked away for the day.”

  Evie narrowed her eyes. “No. Until you accept me as your mate, you have zero say in what I do. And even then, it’s not guaranteed.”

  He leaned until he was an inch from the human’s face. “If you want my help, you should at least try to listen to me. Fighting me at every step of the way is not helping your case.”

  “You know what? Fuck you, Bram. You act like you have a claim on me, yet you foist me off on a guard at the first opportunity rather than talk with me. I understand you’re busy, but no one wants to mate a stranger. I won’t ever try to interfere with your work if it’s important, but if you want to fuck me, then you’d better start paying me some attention. Bloody hell, beyond your DDA reputation and your sexy kisses, I know nothing. Do you have family? A former mate? Let alone what plans you have for the clan. Try opening up to me, Bram Moore-Llewellyn, or I’ll chance the dragon hunters and find another clan leader to help me.”

  Fire danced in her eyes. Bastard that he was, the fighting had made his cock hard as stone.

  Bram grabbed her upper arm, but before he could continue their argument, a Scottish-accented voice interrupted, “If you’re looking for another clan leader, lass, you have one right here and I’ll tell you anything you like for a kiss.”

  Turning around, Bram did his best to hide Evie from Finlay Stewart’s gaze. He barked, “You’re early.”

  The leader raised one blond eyebrow. “I know I said to act informal as I can’t stand the protocols, but you’re close to crossing the line, Mr. Double-Barreled last name.”

  His inner dragon was snarling. Get Evie away. She is ours.

  The human half of him, however, realized the enormity of this situation. He was very close to fucking up everything over a female.

  As he worked to control his possessiveness, Evie’s voice sounded from behind. “Hello, Scottish dragonman. I would introduce myself, but as you can see, I have more than two hundred pounds of dragon-shifter muscle in the way.”

  Finn chuckled and Bram’s dragon snarled louder. He sent calming thoughts to his beast and said, Behave. I will send her to safety.

  From decades of earned trust, his dragon listened. Bram said to Finn, “Give us a minute and we can start over.”

  The Scottish leader answered, “Is she your new mate?”
/>
  What the other leader didn’t say was that it was bad form to flirt with a newly mated dragonman’s female; more than one fight to the death had erupted in the not so distant past over such a misstep. Their inner dragons were finicky beasts when it came to mates.

  Bram wanted to lie, but knew his ties to Clan Lochguard were tentative at best, so he told the truth. “Not yet, but soon.” He turned toward Evie and Nikki. His comments were directed at his young clan member. “Nikki, take her wherever she wants, but bring her back here for lunch. Evie and I need some time to talk.” He moved his gaze to Evie. “You’ll get some time, lass. Just take the other coat is all I ask.”

  She searched his eyes a second before nodding. “Asking is all I want.” She paused, her voice soft when she added, “Don’t order me around, Bram. I don’t like it.”

  Except when she is naked. She will like it then.

  Since Finn was in the same room, Bram didn’t bother wasting time with his dragon. Instead, he said to Evie, “We’ll discuss it at lunch, in private.”

  The human stood on her tiptoes to glance over his shoulder, acknowledging their audience, and then back to him before nodding. “I hope it’s going to be a long lunch.”

  Rather than comment, Bram headed back down the stairs and stopped in front of Finn. He gestured for Evie to come forward. Ignoring his dragon’s snarling, Bram said, “Evie Marshall, this is Finlay Stewart, the leader of Clan Lochguard.”

  The other dragonman put out a hand. As Evie shook the man’s hand, Bram put a hand on her waist and squeezed. She shot him a quizzical glance before she turned her attention back to Finn. “While it’s nice meeting you, I expected Dougal Munro.”

  Finn winked. “Prefer the older men, do you?”

  Before the Scottish shifter could flirt any more with his female, Bram guided Evie away as he explained, “Dougal retired six months ago. I can tell you all about it later.” He plucked a coat off the peg on the wall. “Try not to get into too much trouble, lass.”

  Evie gave a mischievous smile and his heart skipped a beat. “That’s the fun part.”

  He nearly groaned, but Nikki came to his rescue and ushered the human out the door before she could taunt him with any more glances or smiles.

  He turned toward Finn. The Scottish leader grinned. “We can talk about the alliance later. First, you need to tell me where you found such a fiery female. I could use one myself.”

  “Lay one hand on her, and I don’t care if you’re a clan leader, I’ll challenge you to a dragon fight myself.”

  All Finn did was grin wider and Bram knew this was going to be one long meeting.

  Chapter Three

  Evie smiled as she left Bram’s cottage. She’d stirred his jealousy, just as she’d intended. The new, youngish and attractive Scottish clan leader had made it even easier to do, but all that mattered was that she had a lunch date with Bram.

  Of course, lunch was hours away, and even though the DDA would toss aside any report she submitted, Evie felt the need to investigate Caitriona Belmont’s death. With the facts under her belt, she could hopefully direct the new DDA inspector sent to replace her to the truth. If Stonefire was to be her new home, she would need to protect them from the bureaucratic loopholes that could weaken the clan.

  Finding out the truth might also help her earn Bram’s trust enough for him to accept her as his mate.

  Nikola, or as Bram called her, Nikki, stopped and turned around, garnering Evie’s attention. Nikki narrowed her eyes as she said, “I will take you where you wish to go, but not until I say that if you hurt Bram, I will make your life miserable while you’re here.”

  The fact so many of his clan seemed to love him eased her apprehensions bit by bit. “I have no intentions of hurting him as long as he doesn’t hurt me.” Nikki nodded and Evie decided to give the dragonwoman a bit more of an explanation. “He’s protecting me from the dragon hunters.”

  Nikki waved the arm not in a sling. “I don’t care about the reason. Bram is my leader and I respect his decisions. Just don’t hurt him and we’ll get along fine.”

  Since Evie would be spending the next few hours with Nikki, she decided to merely bob her head and push on. “Sounds good. With that out of the way, I need to visit Dr. Cassidy Jackson’s surgery and ask her a few questions.”

  “What for?”

  She could simply tell the dragonwoman to mind her own business, but she wasn’t a DDA inspector anymore. She needed to try fitting in with the clan members or her future could be extremely lonely here. “There are some questions about Caitriona Belmont’s death. I was originally sent here to find out the truth. While the DDA will soon no longer trust me if I’m Bram’s mate, I want to find out the truth before the replacement inspector arrives. I want to make sure they don’t overlook anything.”

  “The DDA thinks we killed her?”

  Evie eyed the woman a second before she replied. “You act like a soldier, so answer this and I’ll give you more information. Are you one of Stonefire’s Protectors?”

  The other woman raised her chin. “In training, but I’m nearly done.”

  Each dragon clan in the UK had a group of special ops-like soldiers called Protectors. They each served with the British armed forces for two years before being trained by their respective clans. The fact this dragonwoman was nearly done spoke volumes about her abilities as well as her loyalty. “Right, then I’ll tell you this in confidence: The high levels of dragon-shifter hormones in her blood might have caused her death in childbirth.”

  Nikki frowned. “I’m not a doctor, but I think it’s normal for a human who carries a dragon-shifter child to have those hormones.”

  “You’re right, but the levels were exceedingly high, as if someone were giving her extra amounts on the side.”

  “That’s not good.”

  “No. So the sooner you take me to see Dr. Jackson, the better.”

  “The clan calls her Dr. Sid, but never in a million years would she try to kill someone.” Nikki turned and motioned with her head. “Still, she might have an idea of who could. Follow me.”

  As they turned down a path on the left, they moved away from the main living community with cottages cheek and jowl and headed toward the wide-open space ringed with rugged hills that was the landing and takeoff area. Or, at least, that was her guess since a large, dark purple dragon jumped up and beat its wings before flying into the distance.

  Most dragon-shifter doctors placed their surgeries near the landing area to make it easier to access their most critical patients. While accidents and injuries happened every day, the worst ones were caused by the dragon hunters, especially if the rumors about their recent weaponry upgrades were true.

  Within ten minutes, Nikki stopped in front of a three-story house with a large covered, yet open-aired, space on the side used to treat dragon-shifters who were too weak to shift back into their human forms. The dragonwoman said, “Dr. Sid might be with a patient, but she should be here. She can, hopefully, answer your questions. Although I hope you’re wrong about someone tinkering with Cait’s hormone levels.”

  Evie nodded. “Believe me, I hope so too.”

  They entered the house-slash-surgery. Inside was obviously a waiting area with some chairs and a desk staffed by a young dragon-shifter male who couldn’t be more than twenty. He smiled at Nikki, but his smile faded when he eyed Evie. “Why did you bring a human here, Nikki? We aren’t due for another female sacrifice for a few months.”

  Rather than let Nikki answer for her, Evie butted in, “I’m Evie Marshall and I’m investigating something for Bram. I’m here to talk with Dr. Cassidy Jackson.”

  The male dragon-shifter eyed her with suspicion. “If Bram had a human investigating something for him, he would’ve alerted the clan and he hasn’t. Who are you?”

  Nikki stepped in front of her. “Leo, she’s with me and I’ll vouch that she’s here to do as she says.”

  While the action was small, Nikki’s defense meant the worl
d to her.

  Leo stared at Nikki and finally sighed. “The last time I stood up to you, I ended up with a black eye and a broken nose. Take a seat and I’ll let the doctor know you’re here.”

  Nikki nodded and Evie couldn’t help but smile. The dragonwoman was a bit like her in that she didn’t take shit from anyone.

  The pair of them moved toward the nearest chairs and sat down to wait.

  ~~~

  After nearly two hours of back and forth, Bram waited for Finn’s answer.

  And not just any answer, but the answer that would determine the future of his clan.

  The tall, blond Scot studied him with his dark brown eyes. The teasing and flirting from earlier in the morning was gone, replaced with a dragonman with an unreadable expression on his face. The version of Finlay Stewart sitting across from him right now was the version who had won the right to be clan leader.

  Finn’s voice finally filled the room. “I have one last condition.”

  He resisted a growl. “I’ve stated my terms and what I’m willing to compromise on. There’s not much room for negotiation.”

  “This falls within your parameters.”

  Bram waved a hand. “Well, stop being melodramatic and spit it out already.”

  “For my people to truly believe you want to work with us, I think we should foster like in the old days.”

  He frowned. “That hasn’t been done for centuries.”

  Finn shrugged. “I think each of us hosting a clan member or three from the other clan will A) help to show that we’re more alike than we give credit and B) allow us to each have a spy.” Bram opened his mouth, but Finn beat him to it. “You seem to like the truth, and spy is closer to the truth than a prolonged guest.”

  “So much for trust.”

  “Hey, trust will come in time. Nothing happens overnight.”

  Despite his irritation at all the negotiating, Bram liked the Scottish leader more as time went on. Finn was far more open-minded and forward-looking than sixty-year-old Dougal Munro had been. “Say I agree to the fostering, then what about the details? How long? How many? What role should they play in the clan? I won’t send one of my clan members to sit and twiddle their thumbs for months on end, nor will I allow them to be shunned and mistreated.”